Currently Series

The Currently Series is an idea that I picked up from some fellow bloggers. Its such a great tool to get yourself thinking about what's really going on in your world. I mean, I know what I'm up to and what I'm involved in, but have I really thought about it? Probably not. The Currently Series gets me thinking about things I'm loving, thinking, planning, working on, preparing for, and appreciating. Its also an aesthetically pleasing way to document & record all these seemingly mundane weeks that fly right by us. It's my in-the-moment inner-thoughts, it's my way to slow down time for a few minutes, it's my appreciation of all the (what some might call) mediocre days that make up my history... 

& I'm happy to begin sharing them.

Have you thought about putting together a Currently Series of your own? Here's my first attempt :

Loving | Damien Rice's new album My Favourite Faded Fantasy is a dream. The single My Favourite Faded Fantasy was released over a month ago and my roommate & I have been dreaming of the day the full album was released into the world. The day finally came - a week sooner than expected and it is, quite frankly, musical magic. I recommend a listen or twelve.

Thinking | SOCIAL MEDIA - to fall or not to fall, that is the question. I have been struggling with making my blog known and getting feedback from people other than my grandma and my friends (appreciate y'all). Research shows me that I need to dive head first into the social media world; tangling myself up in the Twittersphere, Facebook, Instagram... the whole nine yards. I have such a problem with keeping up with social media, not only because it's overwhelming but because I just don't care about it that much. It's a real weight on my shoulders. How much do I want this blog to be successful? How much time am I willing to spend hunched over my computer, hash-tagging and retweeting?

Planning | This leads into the things I'm planning right now. Tons of travelers will create blogs and fill the pages with photos and stories from their time while abroad...but, as soon as they unpack their bags, the blog goes unnoticed, unread and eventually falls in the deep, dark depths of the World Wide Web. I don't want that to happen to The Simple Joys! I want to thrive and keep it going. Thus, the planning phase has begun. I have so many ideas and upcoming projects that you can browse through here : projects

Working | I, like many other college-aged kids, am a server at a local restaurant. I serve huge slabs of barely cooked prime rib to customers who frequent the joint more than three times per week. I serve here a few times a week and *drum roll please* put in my 2 weeks a few days ago. Yeah, I'm quitting the service industry. This should be the last week and I promised myself that I won't work in the food industry any longer. I'm making a pact with myself and I'm sticking to it. The money is generally pretty good and it certainly pays the bills but I've had it up to here with permanently smelling like A1 sauce & meat juice.

Preparing | I'm putting the finishing touches on a travel video to be released THIS FRIDAY on The Simple Joys. It features me drinking big beers on beaches, harassing monkeys on leashes, and singing with Indonesia cooks in the kitchen. Check back in this Friday!

Appreciating | I can't go a day (let alone an hour!) without giving thanks and appreciating my person in life - Justin Pongumpai. He is certainly my soulmate & forever love-man. We have been together for almost 10 beautiful months. He is currently in Bangkok, Thailand and we are doing the long-distance thing. Soon (like 36 days soon) he will be back in America for the holidays. After a month of drinking, eating, and family time we will fly into our future together to start a new adventure in Thailand. 

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